Cheshire
& Manchester
Women's
County
Football League
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Cheshire
& Manchester |
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CONTENTS |
RULES
OF THE LEAGUE REGULATIONS CUP RULES RULES FOR THE CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION RULES FOR LEAGUE CUP COMPETITIONS
RULES FOR SUPPLEMENTARY COMPETITIONS
RULES FOR COMPLEMENTARY TICKETS
RULES FOR PRESENTATION EVENTS
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1. NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION |
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| 2. ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT (A) Applications by Clubs for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be accompanied by an Entry Fee of £10 per team which shall be returned in the event of non-election. At the discretion of a majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply. When Rule 12(B) is applied and a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another division no Entry Fee shall be payable. (B) The Annual Subscription shall be £30 per team payable on or before the 1 September in each year. (C) Each Club shall within seven days of election pay a Deposit of £50 per team which shall be returnable to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee. (D) A Club shall not participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual Subscription and Deposit have been paid. (E) Clubs must advise annually to the Secretary in writing by 1st July of its County Football Association affiliation number for the forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £10. Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other information required by the Competition. |
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| 3. OFFICERS The Officers of the Competition shall be the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration Secretary, Referees Secretary and Fixtures Secretary to be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are not Officers). |
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| 4. MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION (A) The Competition shall be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the Officers and two members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. (B) Retiring Officers shall be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination. All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing, signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 1 May in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual General Meeting (C) The Management Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to deal with business as it arises. On receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee. (D) Except where otherwise mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record of its proceedings. (E) All communications received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers. |
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| 5. POWERS OF MANAGEMENT (A) The Management Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for ratification. (B) Subject to the permission of the Cheshire County Football Association & the Manchester County Football Association having been obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)). (C) Each Member of the Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to the procedure of any sub-committee). In the event of the voting being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. (D) The Management Committee shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set penalty any Club, Official or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule must be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to present their case before the Management Committee. All breaches of the Laws of the Game, Rules and Regulations of The Football Association shall be dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules. (E) All decisions of the Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16. Decisions of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within seven days. (F) Five Members of the Management Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee and three Members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition. (G) The Management Committee, as it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number. (H) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the correspondence of the Competition, shall be liable to be fined or otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee. (I) All fines and charges shall be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification. Clubs, Officials or individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such penalties as the Management Committee may impose. (J) The Management Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the commencement of the Competition season. |
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| 6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (A) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than 30th June in each year. At this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that at least 50% of the Members are present and entitled to vote:- (i) To receive and confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting. (ii) To consider any business arising therefrom. (iii) To receive and adopt the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts. (iv) Election of Clubs to fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management Committee). (v) Constitution of the Competition for ensuing season. (vi) Election of Officers and Management Committee. (vii) Appointment of Auditors. (viii) Alteration of Rules, if any (of which notice has been given). (ix) Fix the date for the commencement and conclusion of playing season. (x) Other business of which due notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant to an Annual General Meeting. (B) A copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Cheshire & Manchester County Football Associations. (C) A signed copy of the duly audited Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Cheshire & Manchester County Football Associations within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting. (D) Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than fourteen days' notice shall be given of any Meeting. (E) Clubs who have withdrawn their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded. (F) All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at least six of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides. (G) No individual shall be entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club unless the individual is also appointed to vote as a representative of a group of Associate Member Clubs. (H) Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £10. (I) Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at an Annual General Meeting. |
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7. AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED |
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| 8. QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS (A) Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted in this Competition. (B) A registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible, has:- Signed a fully and correctly completed Competition registration form in ink, countersigned by an Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the Registrations Secretary one day prior to playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the Club prior to playing. (C) Deleted (D) A team shall not include more than three players who have taken part in any five or more senior competition matches during the current season unless a period of fourteen days has elapsed since they played. N.B. See Rule 10E Note For the purpose of this Competition senior competitions are Regional Leagues and higher. (E) A player having taken part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club official may not accept such player's signature without first ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played. (F) A fee of £2.00 shall be paid for each player registered. (G) The Management Committee shall decide all registration disputes. In the event of a player signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which Club the player shall be registered. The Registrations Secretary shall notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the previous registration. (H) It shall be deemed misconduct for a player to:- (i) Play for more than one Club in the Competition in the same season without first being transferred. (ii) Having signed for one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the Competition in that season except for the purpose of a transfer. (iii) Submit a signed registration form for registration that the player had wilfully neglected to accurately or fully complete. (J) (i) The Management Committee shall have power to accept the registration of any player. The Management Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel or suspend the registration of any player or may fine any player at their discretion proved guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to Rule 16). (ii) The Management Committee shall have power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in all games in the Competition. (Subject to Rule 16). (Note: Action under Clause (2) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct on the field of play until the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into disrepute.) (K) Subject to The Football Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registrations Secretary accompanied by a fee of £2.50. Such transfer shall be referred by the Registrations Secretary to the Club for which the player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it should state its objections in writing to the Registrations Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon its failure to give written objection within seven days, the Registrations Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee, transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new Club from such date or two days after receipt of such transfer. In the event of an objection to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management Committee for a decision. (L) A player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the Competition after 28 February except by special permission of the Management Committee. (M) A Club shall keep a list of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the Management Committee. (N) A register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of registration, shall be kept by the Registrations Secretary and shall be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times mutually arranged. (O) A player shall not be eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or relegation deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the player has played four games for that team in this Competition in the current season. (P) Not applicable. (Q) (i) Any team playing an unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (ii) In addition the team may have three points deducted from its total at the discretion of the Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner which is thought to be fit. (iii) The Management Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed. (The following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):- (R) (i) Priority must be given at all times to school and school organisations activities. (ii) The availability of children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except for Sunday Leagues). (iii) Children under 14 shall not play in a team involving players who are more than 2 years older. (Note: For players under the age of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules will apply.) |
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| 9. CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME (A) Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by 1 July who shall decide as to their suitability. Goalkeepers must wear colours which distinguish them from other players and the referee. No player, including the goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts. Any team not being able to play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least three days before the match. If, in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the away team shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined £10. The Secretary of the Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit. Shirts must be numbered. (B) Any Club wishing to change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee. |
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| 10. PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES (A) The Annual General Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules. No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date. Original fixtures arranged by the Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than 15 August, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting. (B) All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board. Clubs must take all reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition. All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to order the venue to be changed. The Management Committee shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club concerned to play its fixtures on another ground. All matches shall have a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than seventy minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any event shall be of equal halves. The times of kick-off shall be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding £10 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee may determine. Referees must order matches to commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition. The home team must provide at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets must be used. (C) Except by permission of the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All other matches must be considered secondary. Clubs may mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the Fixtures Secretary. (D) The Secretary of the home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least THREE clear days prior to the playing of the match. Any Club failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £5 . (E) Every Club shall play its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition. (Note: The intention of this Rule is not to interfere with normal team selection by Clubs, but to prevent Clubs deliberately fielding a weakened team in order to unreasonably reserve players for another game or to boost the strength of another or lower team. It is NOT intended that Clubs MUST field higher team players in lower teams when the higher team has no engagement. If, in the opinion of the Management Committee, the substance or spirit of the Rule is obviously being disregarded, the Club or Clubs concerned may be called to account for its/their actions and shall be subject to such decisions as the Management Committee may determine, despite the fact that Rule 8 has not been infringed.) In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than eleven players they may be fined £5 for each missing player. A minimum of seven players will constitute a team for a Competition match. (F) Home and away matches shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, award the points to the opponents, order the defaulting Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is warranted by the circumstances. Any Club with more than one team in the Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the Competition, in the following order of precedence:- First Team, Reserve Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall be fined a sum not exceeding £20 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee. Notice of postponement of any match must be given without delay by the postponing Club (or notice of a Club being unable to fulfil any match must be given 48 hours prior to the match by the Club) to the Fixtures Secretary, the Competition Referees Appointments Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable. In the event of a match not being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee. Failing such agreement and notification to the Fixtures Secretary within seven days the Management Committee shall have power to order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date. The Management Committee shall review all abandoned matches and in a case where it is to the advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club, shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be empowered to award the points for the match to the opponents and/or take what other action they may deem necessary. In cases where a match is abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams or their Club members, the Management Committee shall take such action as they consider appropriate. Such action is subject to any disciplinary action taken by the appropriate County Association. (G) A Club may at its discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 3 substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be selected from 5 players. The referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than ten minutes before the start of the match. A player who has been selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of this Competition. (H) The half time interval shall be of ten minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen minutes The half time interval may only be altered with the consent of the referee. |
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| 11. REPORTING RESULTS (A) The Fixtures Secretary must receive within three days of the date played, the result of each Competition match in the prescribed manner. This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in block letters) and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £10 and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide. (B) The Home Club shall telephone the result of each match to the Fixtures Secretary within four hours of end of game. (C) The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have power to take such action as they deem suitable against a Club which submits an incomplete form or incorrect information. |
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| 12. DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP (A) Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points to be awarded for a win and one points for a drawn match. The teams gaining the highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be played for double points. In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team rankings may be decided in any one or more of the following ways: - (ii) Goal difference (iii) Goals scored (iv) Deciding matches played under conditions determined by the Management Committee. (B) Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to the provisions of Rule 1(b). (i) Should one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have commenced an equal number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall not be automatically relegated (ii) Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled on any of the following ways: (a) Retention of otherwise relegated team(s) (b) Additional promotion of the next ranked team(s) from the Division below (c) Election (iii) The last two teams in the lowest Division shall retire, but be eligible for re-election except as below, and be Subject to the conditions of paragraph (B) (1) above. (iv) When a senior team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must accept relegation to, or retain its position in the next lower Division; and should the senior team be relegated to the lowest Division its reserve team automatically retires from the Competition. (v) Should either or both of the leading teams in any of the Divisions have its senior team in the next higher Division, promotion shall fall at the discretion of the General Meeting, to the next highest team or teams in the Division concerned. (C) In the event of a team not completing 75% of its fixtures for the season all points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged from the Competition table. (D) Not applicable in this Competition. |
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| 13. REFEREES (A) Registered Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s). (B) In the event of the non-appearance of the appointed Referee and in cases where there are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee. (C) The Management Committee may, if they consider it desirable, or upon application by the two competing Clubs, appoint Assistant Referees, if available, to any match. Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £10 being imposed on the defaulting Team. (D) The appointed Referee shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play. (E) Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class public transport expenses or private car expenses of 18p per mile together with the following match fees:- Referee £15 Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as Assistant Referees £10 subject to any limits laid down by the sanctioning Association(s). The Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match. (F) In the event of a match not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to half fee plus expenses. Where a match is not played owing to one Club being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if they attend the ground, their full fee and expenses. (G) A Referee not keeping his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to his non-appearance, may have his name removed from the list of Referees and the fact reported to the Association with which he is registered. (H) Each Club shall, in a manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association, award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the prescribed Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with as the Management Committee shall determine. The Competition shall keep a record of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed date each season, shall submit a summary to The Football Association/County Association. (I) The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of Kick-Off to the (Registration) Secretary within two days of the match. (J) Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the Competition Rules free of charge. |
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| 14. CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL
OF A CLUB (A) After 31st December in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding £50. All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Secretary by 1 May each season. (B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season. Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B). (C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at a Special General Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 30TH APRIL nor later than 30TH JUNE or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 30th JUNE the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements (D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition. In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member's pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club's Parent County Association for a suspension order. |
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| 15. PROTESTS AND APPEALS (A)(i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee. (ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee. (B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within FIVE days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined. (C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to Rule 16. (D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of £15. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties. (E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received SEVEN days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint. |
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| 16. BOARD OF APPEAL Within 14 days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee or the Competition a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Cheshire County Football Association or the Manchester County Football Association, including a fee of £25, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned. |
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| 17. EXCLUSION OF CLUBS.OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT,
CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS (A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. (B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable upon a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting. (C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either misconduct, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule. (D) Any Club or Team failing to complete 75% of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season. |
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| 18. TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS
OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS (A) A Competition Cup or Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition as Trustees. If a Competition be discontinued for any cause the Cup or Trophy shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association may decide. At the close of each Competition awards may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit. The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:- "We "A" (The Chairman) and "B" (The Secretary), the Chairman and Secretary of _____(The Club)_____FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of ____(Name of Trophy)____Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before 28th FEBRUARY. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair." |
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| 19. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting. The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time. At least SEVEN days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting. Each Full Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than SEVEN days' notice shall be given of any Meeting. Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given may be fined £10. Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings. |
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| 20. ALTERATION TO RULES Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season. Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 28 February in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 31 March and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 15 April. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if two thirds of those present and entitled to vote are in favour. A copy of the proposed alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning Football Association twenty eight days prior to the date of the meeting. Any alterations or additions decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained. |
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| 21. RULES BINDING ON CLUBS Each Member Club shall be deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16. Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code of Conduct. |
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22. FINANCE |
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| A: Nomenclature & Constitution |
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| B: Entry fee, subscription, deposit (1) The Management Committee may consider payments by special arrangement. (2) Clubs failing to advise the secretary in writing of information required by the Competition by 31st July will result in a fine of £5.00 and the refusal of any special pitch hire arrangements. |
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| C: Officers (1) The officers shall be ex-officio members of all Sub Committees. Any Officer or member of the Management Committee may be considered for life membership or any such suitable memento as may be determined by the Management Committee at the April meeting and confirmed at the AGM. All positions shall be voluntary and no post holder will receive a salary. |
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| D: Management, Nomination, Election
(1) All correspondence requiring an answer or acknowledgement must be accompanied with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Failure to provide a SAE may result in an administrative charge of £1.00 being levied against the Club. (2) The Members of the Competition shall meet bi-monthly on the third Mondays at 8.00p.m. and teams not represented at the calling of the role will be fined, or otherwise dealt with at the Management Committees discretion. Apologies for absence will not be accepted without good reason. The purpose of the meeting will be to receive fixtures, reports and updates of current progress. (3) The Management Committee shall have the power to hold any type of fundraising activity each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Competition. Each team, will be held liable to contribute equally to such sums as may be necessary. (4) All business of the Competition shall be conducted within reasonable time period each day. Any Club member telephoning an Official of the Competition after 9.00 p.m. (unless instructed to do so by that Official) will be fined a sum of £5.00. |
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| E: Powers of Management (1) A Club having failed to comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee within fourteen days of receipt of such notice shall not be allowed to play or participate in the business of the Competition until that order or instruction has been complied with and a reason for the delay has been furnished to the Competition Secretary who shall submit the reason to the Management Committee for their adjudication. (2) The Management Committee shall have the right to publish Memoranda, which will be construed as additional regulations governing the Rules of the Competition. (3) The Management Committee shall have the right to publish a "Mission Statement" that will be the overall statement governing the Aims and Objectives of the Competition. |
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| F: Annual General Meeting Delegates at meetings must be over the age of eighteen years. | top | |||||||||
| G: Agreement to be signed | top | |||||||||
| H: Qualification of players (1) A player may be registered to play for more than one team of her club. (2) Player Registrations must be accompanied by two passport signed photographs, one of which must be signed on the reverse by an official of the Club as a true likeness of the player. Identity cards will be produced for each registered player at a club. (3) Identity cards must be available and shown to the opposition secretary before the start of each game. Any irregularities must be identified on the match report form. (4) A player shall be deemed as Amateur unless she receives any remuneration other than for expenses incurred for playing association football. (5) Failure to disclose the player's membership of another Club, Competition, School of Excellence of Schoolgirls Area Representative team (not School team) will be dealt with by the Management Committee as they feel fit. NOTE: - Notification of any such membership of another team or Club, if incurred after the signing of the registration form must be given to the Secretary within seven days of such membership taking place. (6) Any Club in breach of this Rule shall be fined or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management Committee. (7) Clubs may not register more than 25 players per team at any one time. Clubs may, by writing to the Registration Secretary, withdraw the registration of any of their registered players. (8) Any Club whose player is found guilty of registration irregularities shall be fined £10.00 and the player and Club shall be dealt with as the Management Committee may decide. (9) A request for transfer may be refused or delayed if the FA Rules of transfer are not complied with. In the players best interest a copy of the "Notice of Approach" should be lodged with the Registration Secretary. (10) Any player not honouring school activities shall be asked to explain to the Management Committee the reasons for not doing so, and may be charged with undesirable conduct. (11) Any Club which is reported by a school for a breach of the Rule will be dealt with by the Management Committee, shall be fined £15.00 and may be charged with undesirable conduct. (12) Where Divisions are controlled by age the qualifying date for players under the age of 18 years will be midnight on the 31st of August. (13) No player who is registered for a team above the Regional Leagues in the women's Football Pyramid shall be permitted to register for a Club without the expressed permission of the Management Committee. |
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| J: Club Colours, Club name (1) Any Club in breach of this Rule will be fined £5.00 for each match where unnumbered shirts are worn. (2) Where, circumstances cause two teams from the same Club to play within the same Division each team must bear a different name. (3) Where team colours clash in any semi-final or final tie, both teams must change or, decide by lots at a meeting held prior to the tie. |
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| K: Playing season, Conditions of play,
Times of kick-off, Postponements, Substitutes (1) Kick off times shall be Sunday afternoon 2.00 p.m. Where evening matches have been determined these are to be played on Wednesday or Thursday evening and kick-off time shall be no later than 7.30 p.m. (2) Referees shall not allow games to commence where either or both teams cause the kick-off to be over 30 minutes later than the appointed time. (3) Substitutes not named prior to kick-off may not take part in the match. The player going on must advise the referee of his name, which must also be recorded on the match report form. (4) The home team shall be responsible for the appurtenances of the game or be fined. (5) All teams should have at lest one official or player qualified in Emergency Aid procedures at very game. (6) Where matches are postponed due to the pitch being deemed unplayable, teams must offer to play at the opponenets venue, subject to the availability and fitness of the opponenet's ground. In the event of a postponement the postponing team must complete a the Postponement Form and return it to the Fixtures Secretary within three days, excluding Sundays. |
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| L: Reporting results (1) Failure to telephone the result of the match by the due time shall result in a fine of £5.00. When evening matches are played the result shall be telephoned to the Fixtures Secretary no later than 8.00 p.m. the following day. N.B. This includes Postponements and Abandonment's. |
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| M: Determining championships (1) In the event of two or more teams being equal on points team ranking will be decided in the following priority order:- (iv) Goal difference (v) Goals scored (vi) Deciding matches played under conditions determined by the Management Committee. |
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| N: Referees (1) In the event of the non appearance of the officially appointed referee for a match which has a bearing on a championship, cup or deciding game, the game should not be played. If however the teams decide to play such match with a mutually appointed person as the referee the result of the game will stand. (2) Any Club failing to pay the Match Officials will be fined £6.00 per instance. (3) The Referee may submit the report forms, at monthly intervals, unless there are matters which require immediate attention by the Management Committee when the form should be sent within two days of the match. |
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| O: Continuation of membership or withdrawal of a club | top | |||||||||
| P: Protests and appeals (1) Where a Club considers that there is new evidence or the Club was not offered the opportunity to be present at the hearing, a review may be requested. Such request shall be in writing, in together with a deposit of £10.00, to the Competition Secretary within fourteen days from the date of decision requiring a review. If in the opinion of the Management Committee the new evidence requires the matter to be reviewed, the Management Committee shall convene a hearing forthwith. If the review is not sustained the deposit shall be forfeited. In the case of a review being refused without a hearing the deposit shall be returned. (Subject to Rule 16) |
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| Q: Board of appeal (1) A copy of the appeal must be sent to the Competition Secretary. The operation of the decision of the Competition shall not be suspended pending the result of the appeal, unless ordered to do so by a Board of Appeal. |
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| R: Exclusion of club or teams, Misconduct,
Clubs, Officials, Players (1) Any Club, Official, Member of a Club or Player proved guilty of Undesirable Conduct shall be charged under Rule 17 and may be expelled from the Competition. (2) Any Club who's Member has been proved guilty of Undesirable Conduct will be expected to control that person. In such a manner as the Management Committee shall determine. Failure to control such Undesirable Person may result in a charge of Undesirable Conduct against the Club. (3) No Club, Official, Member of a Club, Player, Committee Member, or other such persons shall have power to divulge to outside sources the business of the Competition, without the authorised written permission of the Competition which must be obtained through the Secretary. Any person(s) disregarding this Rule shall be considered guilty of objectionable behaviour. |
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| S: Trophy:- Legal owners, Conditions of taking over, Agreement to be signed, Awards | top | |||||||||
| T: Special general meetings (1) Delegates at Special General Meetings shall be over the age of 18 years. |
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RULES FOR THE CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITION |
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| 1. CONTROL The entire control and management of the competitions shall be vested in the Management Committee. All cups shall be played for annually and no team shall be allowed to win the cup outright. |
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| 2. NAME The name of the competitions shall be the CHESHIRE & MANCHESTER WOMEN'S FOOTBALL LEAGUE - "CHALLENGE CUP COMPETITIONS" and shall be followed by the name of the sponsor to which the cup has been allocated. |
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| 3. CLUBS The competitions will be based on the divisions of the League and shall be open to those teams who are members of the league and are currently affiliated to their respective County Football Associations. |
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| 4. ENTRY FEES The fees for entry to the competitions shall be decided at the Annual General Meeting. |
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| 5. ELIGIBILITY OF PLAYERS a) Eligibility of players shall be in accordance with the Rules of the League. b) In all rounds of the competition a player must be a registered player, of the team, for a minimum of 14 days prior to the date of the game. For semi-final and final ties only those players who have played in a previous round are eligible, unless the player has 28 days playing qualifications and a minimum of 4 previous games, for the team in other competitions of the League. c) In all competitions: (i) Providing that the registration rules have been complied with, players of each team may be changed but a player shall not in the same season play for more than one competing team. (ii) In the case of drawn, postponed or replayed matches only those players shall be allowed to play who were eligible for the original game (This rule does not debar players who were serving disciplinary suspensions) (iii) Any club playing an ineligible player shall be struck out of the competition, and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £25.00. The tie shall be awarded to their opponents. d) Substitutes shall be in accordance with the Rules of the League. |
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| 6. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COMPETITIONS a) Draw for the competitions:- (i) The names of the Clubs entered for each competition shall be placed in one lot by age group, and drawn in pairs at a time. The first drawn club shall have choice of ground in all rounds except the final tie. (ii) As soon as practicable after each draw the Fixtures Secretary shall intimate to each of the clubs drawn the results of such draw. |
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| 7. GROUNDS a) All matches (including semi-finals where played) shall be played on the ground of the first named team unless sufficient reason be given to the League Secretary due to the commitments of other teams where grounds are shared. The League Secretary may instruct the fixtures to be reversed or played on an alternative ground. Where teams share, the first drawn shall have preference. b) The home team shall be responsible for all appurtenances of the game. c) Final matches shall be played on a ground as determined by the Management Committee. |
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| 8. COLOURS a) Shall be in accordance with the Rules of the League. |
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| 9. MATCH OFFICIALS a) Referees and Assistant Referees (where applicable) will be appointed in accordance with the Rules of the League. b) In all rounds including semi-finals the Referees and Assistant Referees fee shall be as for League games and shall be shared equally by the competing teams. c) In the final tie the Referee and Assistant Referees shall receive a suitable memento. |
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| 10. LIST OF PLAYERS a) Teams involved in semi-final or final ties shall submit to the Divisional Secretary not less than 14 days prior to the match a list of players from which the semi-final or final team shall be chosen. Failure to do so shall result in a fine of £5.00. |
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| 11. ADVISING OPPONENTS AND MATCH OFFICIALS a) Each home club must advise their opponents and match officials in accordance with the Rules of the League. |
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| 12. KICK OFF TIMES a) Kick Off times in all competitions (with the exception of the final tie) shall be as for normal league matches. The final tie may be played on a Saturday or Sunday and the Management Committee shall determine the Kick off times. |
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| 13. DURATION OF PLAY a) All matches shall be of the same duration as stated in the Rules of the League. If at the end of normal time the scores are level, extra time of 15 minutes each way shall be played in all rounds of the competitions In the event of any tie (including semi-finals, where played, and finals) resulting in a draw after extra time. The tie shall be decided by the taking of penalties in accordance with the schedule laid down by the International Football Board. The players to take the penalties must be indicated to the Referee immediately following the final whistle and must be chosen only from the players on the field at the end of the tie. |
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| 14. GROUND RESERVATIONS a) The committee shall reserve the right to claim the use of any grounds and dressing rooms for the use of the League. |
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| 15. MATCH RESULTS, CARDS AND ADVICE a) The match card, fully completed, must be forwarded to the Registration Secretary in accordance with the Rules of the League. Failure to do so shall result in a fine of £5.00 b) The result of the match must be phoned to the Fixtures Secretary in accordance with the Rules of the League. Failure to do so shall result in a fine of £5.00. |
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| 16. PROTESTS AND APPEALS a) Protests and appeals must be made in accordance with the Rules of the League. |
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17. WINNERS, AGREEMENT, GUARANTEE |
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| 18. CUP FINAL, PROGRAMME TICKETS a) On determining the cup finalists, programmes or tickets shall be printed and issued to each team. Distribution of such shall be at the discretion of the Management Committee. These programmes or tickets to be non-returnable and to be sold at a price agreed by the Management Committee. Alternatively the Management Committee shall have the right to charge the costs of Hire, Expenses and Fees equally between both competing teams or set an entry fee and collect gate monies. |
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| 19. RULES NOT COVERED a) In the event of any rules not covered by the above, the Rules of the League will have precedence. |
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| RULES FOR THE LEAGUE CUP COMPETITION | top | |||||||||
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| a) The entire control and management of the competitions shall be vested in the Management Committee. They shall only be competed for when there are insufficient teams in the League and Challenge Cup Competitions, or are used to fill up a season. | ||||||||||
| b) All cups shall be played for annually and no team shall be allowed to win the cup outright | top | |||||||||
| c) These competitions will be run on a League basis, three points for a win and one point for a draw. | ||||||||||
| d) Where time and monies allow the two teams with the highest number of points shall play in a final tie. Where time does not allow the top teams shall be awarded winners and second place trophies. | top | |||||||||
| e) If two or more teams finish equal on points for first, second or third place. The teams with the higher positions will be decided by goal difference. Where the goal difference is the same the team having scored most goals for shall be declared the winners runners-up or third placed team respectively. | ||||||||||
| f) The Management Committee shall have the power to adjust or alter the running of the League Cup Competitions for each or all divisions, from a league basis to that of a knockout competition subject to the number of teams entered and or the time available to complete the competition. | top | |||||||||
| g) In the event of any rules not covered by the above the Rules of the League shall have precedence. If the competition is run as a knockout competition or reaches semi-final or Final Stages the Rules of the Challenge Cup shall have precedence. | ||||||||||
| RULES FOR ANY OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY COMPETITIONS. | top | |||||||||
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| a) The entire control and management of the competition shall be vested in the Management Committee. The Supplementary competition shall be held for those teams not involved in League Championships or other Cup Finals and shall only be run if time and funds allow at the end of the season. | ||||||||||
| b) Those teams not involved in championship or Cup Finals shall be placed in their own division and shall play "Mini League" (one game against their opponents) and the two top teams shall play off in a final match. | top | |||||||||
| c) Points shall be awarded in accordance with League Cup rules as three points for a win and one point for a draw. The two top teams to be awarded trophies or to play in a final tie to decide the eventual winners and runners up. | ||||||||||
| d) All other rules as for league cup rules with the rules of the league championships overriding all other rules in these competitions. | top | |||||||||
| COMPLEMENTARY TICKETS | ||||||||||
| a) The committee shall issue to all cup finalists complimentary tickets for use by the players and team management. These tickets must be handed in at the gate for free admission to the ground on the date of the final. Any player or person not holding a complimentary ticket will be charged the full entry fee to the ground. | top | |||||||||
| b) Complimentary tickets will not be transferable and must be used only for team members or officials. | ||||||||||
| c) Teams wishing to video record their finals must arrange to pay the normal entry fee for the person or persons making the video. | top | |||||||||
| d) The committee will fix the price to all finals. | ||||||||||
| PRESENTATION EVENTS | ||||||||||
| a) The Management Committee shall have the authority to hold Presentation Events for the distribution of awards to players and officials. | top | |||||||||
| b) The Management Committee shall have the authority to determine the place, time and admission charge of the Presentation Events. A minimum of 21 days notice shall be given to all Clubs. | top | |||||||||
| c) The Management Committee shall have the authority to issue to all Clubs, whose members are recipients of awards, a minimum number of tickets, relevant to the type of competition and numbers of awards being presented. Those tickets are not transferable and will be non-returnable. All monies due must be paid to the League Treasurer prior to the event. Alternatively the Management Committee shall have the right to charge the costs of Hire, Expenses and Fees equally between recipient teams. | top | |||||||||
| d) Clubs will be permitted to purchase additional tickets over and above the minimum allocation. (Subject to availability) | top | |||||||||
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